Throwback Thursday, Hip-Hop Edition

I’ve been on the road a lot lately. And travel is only going to increase with extended stops in both Israel and NYC. So it should come as no surprise that recently, I’ve been losing track of what time and day it is. Luckily, you fine social social media hounds remind me that today, is Thursday. God bless you #tbt. So, in honor of everyone’s favorite retro day, I’ve compiled a small list of throwback jams that I’ve been vibing to while on the road. Hope you enjoy!

First off, I have a qualm to pick with you #tbt enthusiasts. Last year doesn’t count as “throwback”. I feel that if you’re going to coin something as throw back than it should be atleast from 4 years ago. Four years is a cycle, it’s the time it takes us graduate from one phase to another, be it school, higher education or personal growth. In other words, a whole lifetime ago. And your use of that term should coincide with that. As such, all tracks here are not newer than 2009.

I know what you’re thinking. And no I didn’t hear this song when it first came out. I was ten. But years later and via the College Dropout I came to discover the beautiful sounds of Mos Def and Talib Kweli. A timeless track that shows that “smart” or “backpack” rap can be aurally pleasing.

This song made lunch tables fun and was the unofficial anthem to anyone that went to high school when this song came out. It remains as the one of the Neptunes most iconic productions. There really isn’t much to say here. It’s a classic.

Everytime this song comes onto my iPod, I feel so fucking gangster. The simple, looping beat is hypnotizing and Nas as always comes correct with the lyrics. One of my favorite tracks from 2002’s “God’s Son”, a show of force that furthered Nas’s claim to the King of New York title.

Nine years after it’s release, and I still have no idea what Cam’ron is talking about on “Get Em Girls”. But I don’t care. His polysyllabic and irreverent rhymes are often off cue and lack any cohesion, but they’re fun and you can’t help but bop your head. PS bonus points if you can spot a young Kanye West in this video.

Unlike the other songs on this list, I remember exactly where I was when this single was released. It was released in late May of 2005, just before I was set to graduate high school. The day the song came put, I burned it on a CD, just that song, and had it on repeat as I drove to school for a leadership function.

I can still feel the warm Modesto morning brushing up on my face with the smell of freshly cut grass lingering below my nose as I cruise up Oakdale Avenue, windows down, speakers (well, the two of them that worked anyway) blaring.

This song is a time capsule to my late adolescence and my favorite song off of my favorite Kanye West album, Late Registration.

Hope you guys are having a kickass Thursday! Let me know what throwback jams you guys are blaring, as I need to make a playlist for my trip tomorrow and would love your suggestions!